GST on mobile handsets should be reduced from 12% to 5%: Coolpad

The new budget should take special measures to efficiently upgrade the digital infrastructure in all parts of the country. Right now we need more high-speed internet networks to penetrate further into the cities, villages and towns. As these areas become smartphone friendly, handset brands can look forward to expand their reach to remote regions and facilitate connectivity.

I also suggest that the government should reduce the GST on mobile handsets from 12% to 5%, especially for the smartphones under INR 10,000. With a 12% GST mobile phones are costlier by 4-5% and has also taken away the benefit under duty-differential, being offered to local manufacturers.

To put "Make in India" as a driving force for the electronic manufacturing sector , Government needs to act swiftly to provide benefits to the local manufacturers, as lack of part suppliers along with a complex tax regime is already hurting the make in India initiative as a whole”.

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After PSU banks, the government is likely to infuse capital in two chronically ill telecom PSUs BSNL and MTNL, and the Union Cabinet is likely to take a decision on 4G spectrum allocation to them by the third week of the current month after DoT places the note before it for consideration.

At a high-level meeting at the PMO late Tuesday, it was also decided that the two telcos will frame a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) to reduce their employee strength, which will be followed by a reduction in the retirement age to 58.